The Unsung (and Unseen) Heroes of our Green Wall

Longwood’s Green Wall is a truly stunning sight to behold. Our guests snap hundreds of photos of it and reactions of “oohs” and “ahhs” can be overheard every day.

Guests to Longwood aren’t the only ones who love the Green Wall. To insects and mite pests, this visual masterpiece is nothing more than a vertical buffet of juicy, delicious plants just waiting to be feasted upon. It’s not a matter of “if” the Green Wall will get pests; it’s a matter of “when.” The densely planted foliage provides lots of cover for mealy bugs to hide and many of the plant varieties are known hosts for spider mites.

Longwood’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) staff battles these pests with a non-chemical approach called biological control. Biocontrol, as it’s known for short, has been part of Longwood’s IPM program since the mid-90s and is the use of one live organism to combat another. We do this by purchasing beneficial insects and mites from commercial insectaries and then releasing them according to a schedule. At 4,200 square feet in surface area, our Green Wall, the largest in North America, is the perfect place to use this method large-scale. Since last spring, we have been releasing several biocontrol agents on the Green Wall.

A close up of some of the plants on Longwood’s Green Wall

To control aphids, we release tiny wasps called Aphidius ervi. No larger than gnats, these wasps sting individual aphids and lay an egg in each one. As the egg hatches and develops into an adult wasp, the aphid dies. Although a few Aphidius ervi wasps can destroy an aphid population, they pose no danger to humans as they are much too small to sting us.

Released in tiny bags called sachets, Amblyseius californicus, a type of mite, prey on spider mites. Each sachet contains approximately 2,000 mites and serves as a breeding system. Because they can go dormant and survive in the absence of prey, Amblyseius californicus work very well as a form of biocontrol. On the Green Wall, we do our best to hide the sachets, but if you have a sharp eye you can find them.

Another predatory mite we use is Amblyseius swirskii. This mite eats whiteflies and thrips. Like its cousin Amblyseius californicus, Amblyseius swirskii comes in breeding sachets that are hung among the plants in the Green Wall. However, it isn’t as hardy as Amblyseius californicus and needs a constant source of prey to survive. Encarsia formosa and Eretmocerus eremicus are both parasites that kill whiteflies. Like Aphidius ervi, they are tiny wasps that sting their prey. These two species are mixed in a 50-50 ratio and deployed on small cards that we hide among the plants.

To control thrips, we use the minute pirate bug, Orius spp. Orius are very small—only a few millimeters in length. We distribute them as adult insects which will not only feed, but also mate and lay eggs. In addition to being excellent thrip predators, Orius also hunt aphids and spider mites. Best of all, they survive on plant pollen in the absence of prey, ensuring that we will always have a population on the Green Wall.

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri is a mealybug destroyer. These lady beetles are completely black except for a spot of red near their heads. Released as adults by the thousands on the Green Wall, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri produce larvae that closely resemble mealybugs. We want our Cryptolaemus montrouzieri to lay eggs because larvae are even hungrier than adults and can trick mealybugs into being eaten.

So far, we’ve been very pleased with the results of biocontrol on the Green Wall. Although we do occasionally find a few bad guys, our biocontrol agents are keeping pests at levels well below what we can tolerate.

A view of the fountain at the Green Wall

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Longwood Lemur Salad

A wide-eyed safiaka (Photo from Tammy Schmidt, Philadelphia Zoo)

Lemurs at the Philadelphia Zoo, like you, need vegetables in their diet every day to keep them healthy and happy.  In the case of the Lemur Propithecus coquereli or Coquerel’s sifaka, they enjoy a specific kind of leafy green harvested from winged sumac (Rhus copallinum).

Though the lemur is native to the far away island of Madagascar, the leaves of a Rhus copallinum, which is a Pennsylvania native, can provide the specific nutrients required by the sifaka.

Typically, the zoo can grow and collect a sufficient amount of sumac locally. Last year, due in part to the extremely wet weather conditions, there was a shortage of usable plant material available, so the zoo contacted Longwood in hopes that we would have some plants on property.  (Now where do people get the idea that we have plants kicking around here?)

Fortunately, there is a large stand of winged sumac in Longwood’s research nursery area that we were happy to share! The zookeepers were ecstatic when they saw the sizable thicket of Rhus copallina standing about 20 feet tall by 30 feet wide. The thicket would be a great vacation spot for the sifaka if they tire of city life. They could find refuge in the branches and eat until their heart’s content.

A lemur hanging out in a tree--probably waiting for a Rhus snack (Photo from Tammy Schmidt, Philadelphia Zoo)

A baby lemur with mom, enjoying a Rhus snack (Photo from Tammy Schmidt, Philadelphia Zoo)

The keepers harvested branches and leaves of the plant and took the material back to the zoo for processing and freezing. The leaves will be rationed out over the winter.

Plant material fed to the zoo animals is called “browse.” The zoo actually has a browse growing area that produces food for the animals. About a decade ago, there was another shortage of Rhus copallina at the zoo, and the Zookeepers harvested browse at Longwood back then as well.

Rhus copallina is native to the eastern half of the United States, and is known as the winged sumac or shiny sumac. There are distinctive “wings” on the leaf stem, and the leaves are very glossy and turn a brilliant red in the fall.The particular plant in Longwood’s research nursery was collected in New Jersey. In addition to the stand of plant material that is located in the research nursery, the plant can also be found in Longwood’s perimeter areas.

The character Zoboomafoo from the popular children’s series of the same name is actually a Coquerel’s sifaka. In real life, the animal is ADORABLE with big eyes in a fuzzy head and long legs. They spend most of the time in trees, but when they do travel across the ground they hop on their long legs as if they are dancing. (You can see some fun videos of this on You Tube.) Sifakas are a species of lemur, which belong to a suborder of primates called prosimi. I am told that they should be referred to as a prosimian and not a “monkey” nor “ape.” Whatever we call them, they are adorable and Longwood was happy to help supply a daily salad for them!

Lemur Love (Photo by Desiree Haneman)

A lemur kicking back, showing off its long legs (Photo by Desiree Haneman, Philadelphia Zoo)

A mother and baby lemur (Photo by Desiree Haneman, Philadelphia Zoo)

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Longwood’s Furry Ambassadors

Iggy (named after rocker Iggy Pop) on Longwood's Flower Garden Walk

In March 2009, we posted our most popular blog to date—explaining the role of the beloved cats that are diligent workers in Longwood’s Integrated Pest Management Program. Since then we have added four felines to our ranks, so we thought it was time to introduce our newest furry ambassadors and update you on the rest of the crew!

Our cats patrol all of Longwood’s grounds,  from the Nursery and the Peirce-du Pont house to the Abbondi Composting facility. Each cat has an assigned area of the Garden and a human caretaker.  The responsibilities these felines take on are varied.  Their primary job is on the Rodent Control Task Force, but they also work as greeters, work supervisors, lap warmers and highly skilled catmint pruners.  They work in exchange for food, shelter, and a health care plan.

Every spring, Dr. Spancake of Lenape Veterinary Clinic in West Chester, PA makes a trip to Longwood to administer an occupational health exam and give booster vaccinations.  Some cats are a little afraid of the doctor and require corralling. Others, like Noel and Belin, purr through

Dr. Spancake and his assistant checking out JoJo

the whole affair. All the cats got a clean bill of health this year, although at least one will need to up the exercise time to lose a little extra weight!

After a rough winter with lots of snow and a few minor injuries, as well as a few extremely hot days this summer, all of Longwood’s cats are happy to be outdoors enjoying the pleasant weather.

First, let me introduce you to our three newest “employees”:

Sarge, Ben and Jerry
All three of these “new hires” came to us as kittens last summer.  The three brothers were rescued from a golf course garage in Wilmington, DE.  When we got them, all three were malnourished with fleas and eye infections.  Happily, the boys are back to mouse-catching condition and cute as can be!

Sarge hard a work

Sarge resides at the Security House and it’s been reported to me that his little feet never touch the ground!

For all the spoiling this rambunctious teenager receives, he repays his caregivers by entertaining them with funny antics, lots of affection and a mouse every now and then.  He loves visitors, but watch out! Close the door quickly or he’s likely to run out to grab a little fresh air!

Still working hard in the Security House

Ben and Jerry are stationed at the Abbondi Composting Facility and are cared for by Glenn and Larry—wink wink!  Jerry is almost identical in appearance to Sarge, but has a pink nose and a white chin.  He is over-the-top friendly, with a loud purr and a comical high-stepping walk.  I think he is just so excited to see people, he’s walking on air!

Jerry happily purring away. Ben was unavailable for photos.

Ben is the complete opposite of his two brothers.  He is grey with just a hint of white on his chest. He is friendly, but so shy we rarely see him.  However, we know he ventures out occasionally because he once got himself stuck in a storm drain.  Luckily, he was able to free himself using a strategically placed piece of fence and wooden pallet.  I thought I was going to have to crawl around down there to coax him out of hiding!

Boca

Boca guarding the Gardens Shop inventory

Our brand new addition to the Longwood Cat program is Boca, named for his giant loud mouth!  This handsome black cat with big green eyes arrived at the loading dock of the Garden Shop last Fall.

Super-friendly and affectionate, Boca spent the chilly winter in the upstairs storage room of the Visitor Center resting and packing on the pounds.  He makes sure you know when he is hungry by standing in the stairwell loudly meowing for food—remember how he got his name?  Many of the Garden Shop employees fell instantly in love with Boca and he now has a monogrammed blanket, custom cat door, and many adoring visitors.

Boca makes an excellent addition to any desk

And now, for our familiar cast of characters:

Belin doing what he does best!

Belin

Guardian of the historic Peirce-du Pont house, this large grey tabby has a name with historic origins; “Belin” (pronounced BEE-lin) is Ms. Alice du Pont’s maiden name.

Belin is probably Longwood’s most famous feline due to his large size and friendly personality; however, he has very humble origins.

Watch your step!

Rescued from a dumpster at The Terrace Restaurant in 2004, he was covered with grease and very afraid of people.

Nowadays, Belin can’t get enough human attention and works closely with Longwood’s Guest Service Representatives as an ambassador to the thousands who visit the Perice-du Pont House each year.  One of his favorite spots is curled up on a chair or sprawled out in front of the entrance like a welcome mat!

Catching some rays from one of his favorite chairs

Kousa

Kousa looks a bit like a cross between a cat and a polar bear.

A polar bear? No, it's Kousa!

She is large and white, and hibernates for most of the colder months inside the Carriage

Shed on the eastern side of the garden.  She is also stone-deaf, which means she isn’t perturbed by all the noisy machinery in her area, where mulch, soil, and debris are routinely dropped off and picked up.  But don’t be late with her breakfast or she will really let you know about it with loud meows!

Will someone rub my belly already?

Noel surveying the Idea Garden

Noel and Smokey

This lucky pair inhabits the Idea Garden Shop on the western side of the Garden.  Their home just happens to be the shop closest to the largest catnip patch on the property, which may explain their happy and affectionate personalities.

Smokey in the Fall

Given a choice between a person and food, Smokey would choose the person every time.  Noel is a foul weather friend and the oldest of Longwood’s cats; the colder it gets the more she wants to be on your lap.  In the winter, she often sneaks into the Conservatory where I have spotted her curled up contentedly next to seated guests.  But in the warmer months, she is happiest outside sleeping in the sun or catching mice.  Pretty impressive for a petite lady of a distinguished age!

Noel taking a well deserved nap

Missy
Missy lives with the arborists at Anvil Shop near the Nursery.

Missy keeping watch at the Anvil Shop

She is a dilute tortie with a license to kill.  She used to take her rodent catching duties far more seriously than most of Longwood’s other cats, often leaving gifts for her caretaker.  However, the older she gets, the happier she is to curl up on a pile of Christmas lights!

Smitty and Jojo
Smitty and Jojo are the sisters who patrol the nursery.

Smitty and Jojo sharing a sisterly embrace

Jojo looks regal in her tuxedo

Jojo is black with a white bib, stomach, and toes. Smitty is nearly all black, with white only on her stomach.  They show occasional sisterly affection toward one another, stopping to bump noses now and then, but usually stick to their own turf.

Jojo spends much of her time in the area around the barns and tenant houses. However, due to an ACL tear, she spent most of the winter months recuperating indoors at one of the Nursery’s tenant houses.  Her caretakers gave her plenty of TLC and she’s back running around with barely even a limp.

Smitty loves people and hangs out in and around the nursery greenhouses.  Coaxed with treats, she will even do a few tricks!

Smitty stops to smell the flowers

Spooky and Vincenzo

This nearly inseparable pair shares a cozy little heated hut near the Terrace Restaurant.

Vincenzo in a calm moment

Their close friendship goes to show that opposites really do attract.  Their appearances and personalities could not be more different.

Spooky hopes for a hand out

Vincenzo’s long grey fur sports the just-rolled-out-of-bed look; while Spooky’s sleek black coat can outshine any other cat in the garden.  As for their personalities, “Spooky” is anything but. Vincenzo—more appropriately VincenzA (or Wild Thing depending on who you ask!)—was originally discovered behind the Italian Water Garden and was named in part for her tough demeanor, but she is actually super shy.  When Spooky occasionally goes exploring on his own, Vincenzo cries and cries for her missing friend.

Iggy

Iggy usually hangs out around Flower Garden Walk.

Iggy looking angelic on the Flower Garden Walk

He has a black coat with a white face, chest and boots; but don’t let the tuxedo fool you. With a neurotic personality and a gift for getting into trouble, he more than lives up to his namesake–Iggy Pop.  If he wants food or your attention he’s not afraid to open his mouth and ask for it.  His high-jinx include getting himself locked in a women’s bathroom and caught in a have-a-heart trap set for capturing skunks.

Rebar

Rebar

Many of our guests have been asking about and missing the little tuxedo cat, Rebar, from the Hillside Garden.  Well, I miss her, too.  She died two years ago and I still feel sad when I enter the Hillside shop for a tool or some extra hose.  I placed a memorial stone with an “R” made of rebar in the Hillside Garden in her honor.  She was my furry little friend and Longwood just isn’t the same without her.

Feel free to give any of the cats a gentle hello if you see them.  Many will take advantage of a warm lap if given the chance, but won’t be offended if they are too busy patrolling or cat napping!  Thank you for visiting Longwood Gardens, and be sure to come again—there is always something new to see and do with the whole family!

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Now We Are Cooking… with Summer Vegetables!

Summertime is full of sunshine, blue skies, and the EXTREME temperatures that veggies love! The Professional Gardener (PG) student veggie plot is thriving on Red Lion Row (known fondly by the students as “The Row”) and we have been harvesting produce three times a week. It’s wonderful that the produce can be delivered to Longwood’s Terrace Restaurant within the hour of being picked from the field. You can’t get any fresher than that!

Snap Peas

During the early season, when things were a bit cooler than today, we harvested an abundance of snap peas and numerous kohlrabi heads. We began harvesting snap peas on June 5 and finished harvesting them in late June. Although it was a short season, we reaped a total of over 30 lbs, which everyone was pleased with.

Once the snap peas were spent they were replaced with cucumbers and summer squash, both started from seed in the ground. Since it has been so hot outside we have had to water these precious seedlings at least twice or sometimes three times a day to keep them moist and happy.

PG Vegetable Plot on Red Lion Row

Along with the heat comes watering the plot, a common everyday task for the Junior PG’s. We find it best to water early in the morning or late in the evening once the sun has gone down to support better water retention. Something to keep in mind when watering your own garden: Watering in the evening is not always ideal because the leaves remain wet and that prolonged dampness can encourage disease.

Currently we have been harvesting Swiss chard, carrots, summer squash and cucumbers—all of which are warm season crops that we will be able to harvest through September. Within the next few weeks, we will start harvesting eggplant, tomatoes and peppers. Last week, while I was watering the plot, I noticed that some of the Sun Gold Cherry Tomatoes were starting to turn yellow. We are already harvesting a substantial amount of them, which is very exciting.

Swiss Chard

Summer Squash: Golden Zebra (left)/Ronde de Nice (right)

Jason Belkov, Head Chef of the Terrace Restaurant at Longwood Gardens, shared one of his recipes that uses our summer squash. This is something you can taste while visiting Longwood, or we hope that you will make it at home with produce picked from your own garden!

Summer Squash Lasagna

Ingredients

(about 2 medium) yellow squash, sliced 1/4 inch thick (in lieu of pasta)
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup grated carrot
1/2 cup cooked sautéed sliced button mushrooms
20 spinach leaves
2 small tomatoes, cut up
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 garlic clove, minced

4 tbsp olive oil
1/2 teaspoon fresh oregano
1/2 teaspoon fresh basil
1/4 teaspoon fresh thyme
1/4 cup water
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Grill squash until tender and set aside. Pan fry onions & garlic with the olive oil and add carrots, mushrooms and bell pepper until veggies are tender. Add the spinach, tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, thyme, water & pepper.  Bring this all to a boil.
2.  Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered for 10 minutes or until reduced to 2 cups.
3.  In small bowl add ricotta cheese & half of shredded cheese.
4.  In (1 1/2-qt.) baking-roasting pan arrange half of the tomato mixture. Top with half of the summer squash, half the Parmesan and all the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with remaining tomato mixture and then the squash slices.
5.  Bake uncovered at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.
6.  Sprinkle with remaining cheeses. Bake 10 minutes longer.

Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
* Serving Size: makes 4 servings

A total of 220 lb. of produce has already been harvested from the plot, and we are only 7 weeks into the growing season! With how things are progressing, we expect to have a great season and look forward to learning more about vegetables by raising them, and sharing all of that knowledge with you!

Since the profits from the veggie plot benefit our class trip, I wanted to let you know that the Professional Gardener Class of 2012 will be traveling to China in October 2012, and we are very excited!

PG's in the Veggie Plot

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Longwood Gardens’ Bright Future

 

Today marked an important milestone at Longwood Gardens. In an official flipping of a giant light switch with trustees, staff, volunteers and local dignitaries, Longwood Gardens began producing enough clean, solar electricity to provide power to the equivalent of 138 Pennsylvania homes and to reduce Longwood’s carbon dioxide emissions by 1,367 tons. We achieved this through the installation of a 1.5 megawatt solar array on more than 10 acres of Longwood property.

Watch a Youtube video of the grand opening.

A view of Longwood's new 1.5 MW solar field

The solar field is the newest project in our wide-ranging environmental stewardship program at Longwood. We call our program “Soil to Sky,” meaning that rather than viewing our stewardship role with a microscope, we view it with a very wide lens to ensure that we are caring for our “global garden” that is much larger than the 1,077 acres in which we physically reside.

We have been stewards of our environment through our water management practices, recycling, composting, demand-side energy reduction, and even growing produce in our very own gardens for our Terrace Restaurant. But in 2009, we increased our efforts further when we established a bold stewardship goal to reduce Longwood’s dependence upon nonrenewable energy sources and install 3 MW of solar power by 2018. Once achieved, an estimated 70% of Longwood’s annual electrical needs will be provided from solar energy, and during peak hours on sunny days Longwood can be completely removed from the utility grid!  The commissioning of our solar field today achieved 50% of our solar power goal. Find out more about our solar field on our website.

Nathan Hayward, President of Longwood's Board of Trustees, flips the switch on Longwood's new solar field. Hayward is joined by PA's Secretary of the DEP Michael Krancer, State Senator Dominic Pileggi, President of groSolar Jeffrey Wolfe, and other dignitaries.

Our approach to solar electricity at Longwood is different: it’s not just a power plant, it’s a garden.  We are in the business of beauty at Longwood, and we want to create a new landscape aesthetic for solar installations around the world.  Normally, solar fields are flat and placed upon unsightly paving materials such as gravel or asphalt.  Rather than fight the beautiful rolling topography of southeastern Pennsylvania, we are committed to working with the land and experimenting with low-maintenance native plant mixes that can be established underneath the solar panels.  If the landscape experiment we are embarking upon is successful, Longwood’s solar panels will appear as though they are set within a beautiful, flowing, natural southeastern Pennsylvania meadow.  Our ultimate goal is to not only take Longwood off the grid,  but also establish a new landscape standard for future solar fields around the world. We are looking forward to sharing the results of our landscape experiment with others looking to install or update a solar field.

Our solar "flower" demonstration in Longwood's Idea Garden--where guests can learn more about Longwood's solar program, and how solar energy is produced.

Longwood Gardens would have never been able to achieve this accomplishment without the help of our friends and community partners:  Governor Tom Corbett, Senator Dominic Pileggi, Representative Chris Ross, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Utility Commission Chair Rob Powelson, Kennett Township Board of Supervisors, University of Delaware Center for Energy and Environmental Policy, Think Energy, groSolar and EcogySolar.

We want nothing less than for Longwood Gardens to be one of the great gardens of the world.  We would never be so audacious as to say that we are the greatest, but we strive for excellence in all that we do, including caring for our environment and tending our “global garden.”

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